After being noticed all over the internet and successfully landing the #3 spot on the Billboard 200 charts on its 1st week of release (02/03/2009), it's clear that all of America has felt the fire Dierks put out in his fourth studio release "Feel That Fire." Dierks Bentley is known for his rugged country style in his songs ultimately defines his songs to be the "male anthems" for all guys out there.

The first track "Life on the Run" starts off the record with an intense feeling as it starts off with the sound of a vehicle revving its engine literally "on the run" and the song has the original  southern country feel.

The next track "Sideways" is a very performance/audience friendly song that includes lots of recorded crowd interaction with a contemporary sound that Bentley has showed in his past music.

The album's title track, "Feel That Fire," takes a little slower and different road than the first couple of songs and definitely showcases Bentley's vocal abilities, although isn't one of the best tracks. However, the guitar riffs in the beginning and throughout the song as well as the melody of the song can no doubt get stuck in heads for a while. "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes" is the ballad on the track that is the romantic track that any girl would want her partner to sing to her, which is why this is one of my personal favorites on the track.

"Here She Comes" has a similar feel like "Life on the Run" with the very high energy and playful song about trying to get to a girl that the guy is attracted to. "I Can't Forget Her slows" down again with a more acoustic guitar-driven sound that is the anthem for any guy who can't get a girl out of his mind. The next track "Beautiful World" provides a very beautiful collaboration with Patty Griffin in this sweet ballad in which both Bentley and Griffin harmonize their different sounds of vocals wonderfully.

"Little Heartwrecker" goes against the whole theme of the album of trying to win a girls heart to now being betrayed byher. It's fast paced and is a very bouncy song, but possibly one of the least best tracks on the album because the speed and Bentley's voice don't quite match up.

"You Hold Me Together" turns back to a slower vocally empowered song that magnifies Bentley's talent and is one of the best songs on the record. "Better Believer" talks about Bentley's life and how he has such a great life that a "better believer" would deserve it more. This song takes a more of a religious route and a difference in meaning other than the love songs in the previous tracks.  "Pray" combines the both religious and romantic feel the album has had already by praying to find love and joy in life for his significant other. Being one of the slowest tracks on the album, it has one of the most meaningful lyrics.

The last track on the album, "Last Call," features a feel back to the classic country and bluegrass melodies with another collaboration with Ronnie McCoury. It has the square dancing, banjo and fiddle based music that closes off the album with a completely different sound that Dierks had throughout the album.

"Feel That Fire" represents all the feelings men would have revolving around love and life by bringing that rugged edge from Dierks' musical style. If you're looking for old-fashioned southern style country with a love-seeking theme for guys, this album is the way to go. I'd suggest heading over to iTunes and picking up the ballads if you're not interested in the latter.






Crystal Aminzadeh is the regional head of the West/Southwest region at Musiqtone.com. You can contact her at crystalaminzadeh@musiqtone.com or fill out this feedback form below.